MISSOURI FISHING REPORTS
Posted: 04/22/2005
Even if the Bait Shops are closed we are still updating the lake levels.
Blind Pony | Blue Springs | Bull Shoals (East) | Bull Shoals (West) | Clearwater |
Concordia City Lake | Council Bluff | S. Grand River | Jacomo | James A. Reed |
Lake of the Ozarks | Longbranch | Longview | Maple Leaf Lake | Mark Twain |
Missouri River | Montrose | Mozingo Lake | Norfork | Pony Express |
Pomme de Terre | Sever | Smithville | Stockton | Table Rock |
Taneycomo | Thomas Hill | Truman | Wappapello | |
This page was last updated 01/14/14 | ||||
Click Here for Lake locator map |
When your at the lake,
stop in and check out the latest fishing information from the baitshops that provide us
with our reports. If you mention you saw their ad here, many offer discounts on bait or tackle. |
Click Here to Add Your Own Report |
||
Mandatory
Boating Education FAQs - 5/24/2004 (pdf) |
Report by: The Bait Stop
CLOSED DUE TO RENOVATIONS
Will re-open in 2008
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 802.0 Temperature:
Inflow: 0 cfs Outflow: 12 cfs. Level: 0.32 feet high
Report by 40 Woods Bait & Tackle Missouri Wildlife Check In Station Braggin' Board
Catfish good on shad
Wipers fair on rattletraps off the dam
Crappie and Bass fair in flooded timber
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 656.0 Temperature: 60 - 62
Outflow: 8732 cfs Level: 1.00 feet low
April 18, 2005
Spring weather has finally arrived, the trees are budding, the wildflowers are blooming and the butterflies are everywhere. Nights are still cooling off into the upper 40’s but the daytime temperatures have been in the 70’s. Lake temperature is now in the upper 50’s (56 to 59) and in the back of the creeks you can even find 60 to 62 degrees. Lake level this week is up. 653.99 is the level on Sunday and we now have some submerged buck brush in the lake, which will help the spawn. Also with the rising water level the lake clarity has been reduced and is now in the 10 to 12 foot range. The crappie bite has picked up on crappie minnows and the Bobby Garland Swimming Minnow in 10 to 15 feet of water in the back of the cuts and pockets. By next week they should be on the banks spawning. White Bass are in the back of almost every creek around the lake. The spawn run is just getting underway. Roadrunners, small spoons, Cotton Cordell Spot Minnows and crappie grubs are just some of the lures that are triggering some action.
Largemouth bass have moved into their spawning areas and are roaming the shallows feeding up before their spawn. There are some largemouth on beds at this time but they are not locked on, which means they are false beds and the males are waiting on the females. Best baits are spinner baits, flukes, trick worms and tubes worked off the banks around secondary points and the back of the creeks, cuts and coves.
Smallmouth bass are spawning on ledges in 10 to 16 feet of water throughout the lake. Some of the females that are outside the beds are biting on hula grubs and Spider jigs in gourd green or watermelon/red colors. Lizards are also triggering some nice smallies. Take some time looking in the creeks and on the main lake for transition banks, most of these areas have ledges and ledges this time of year means smallies.
Kentucky bass are also spawning but they are so deep the lake visibility will not let you see the beds. Chunk rock points, bluff walls and the middle of deep cuts or watersheds are all primary spawning areas. Best baits are tubes, finesse worms, Sinko’s and hula grubs.
Walleye are still in post spawn and the bite is slow. The sunfish (or perch) are starting to show up on the banks this week so maybe that will trigger the walleye bite. Meanwhile keep fishing the banks with Pointers, X-raps and Suspending Rogues in the mornings, then switch over to night crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers throughout the rest of the day. Work along chunk rock channel swings and "do nothing" banks with some big rock or a transition area present. The PWT Walleye Tour will be held in three weeks (May 11 through 13). The walleye pros and co-anglers should find the walleye bite excellent. Weigh-ins will be held at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock all three days.
Lake Rating: Crappie are headed to the shallows, White Bass are very close to their spawn run, largemouth are in pre-spawn and smallmouth and Kentucky Bass are in spawn, walleye are post spawn and slow. This week the rating is good.
Fishing for trout on the White River has been good this past week even with the large amount of generation. When there is not much generation, Berkley Power Eggs in yellow, and pink have done well. With generation the Buoyant spoons, Super Dupers, Blue Fox and Crocodiles are the bait of choice. The fly fisherman has done well on Olive Woolly Bugger, midges and scuds. The Brown trout are being caught on Countdowns, Shad Raps, Suspending Rogues and night crawlers.
Remember to keep only what you can eat and release the rest for another day. Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail does the research for this report and the writing of this report.
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 500.0 Temperature: 67
Release Rate: 509 Level: 6.58 feet low
Largemouth Bass good on spinner baits
White Bass good
Crappie good using minnows and jigs
Smallmouth Bass No Report
Spotted Bass No Report
Catfish No Report
Bluegill No Report
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Level:
Report by: The Bait Stop
CLOSED DUE TO RENOVATIONS
Will re-open in 2008
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature: 61 Level: normal
Sunfish slow
Largemouth Bass slow
Crappie slow
Bluegill slow
Catfish slow
(Below Urich)
Flatheads No Report
Channel Cats No Report
Blue Cats No Report
Crappie No Report
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature: Clarity: Level: 0.00 feet low
The park registration office is now open seven days a week 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Lake Jacomo Park Headquarters.
Report by 40 Woods Bait & Tackle Missouri Wildlife Check In Station Braggin' Board
Crappie good minnows and small light colored jigs over crappie beds.
Bluegill fair on wax worms
Catfish very good on Night crawlers in coves after rain.
Walleye fair at night on Rapalas firetiger
Updated 04/22/05
Temp: 68
Channel Catfish No Report
Largemouth Bass good
Bluegill No Report
Crappie good
Trout slow at Coot Lake and Honker Pond
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 660.0 Temperature: 42
Inflow: 7100 cfs Outflow: 5000 cfs. Level: 2.82 feet low
Report by Missouri Angler Missouri Angler Buddy Bass Derby Results
No Report
03/22/05
Catfish Reports by: Anthony Ford: Catfish & Spoonbill Guide
Here is a spoonbill fishing report for the first week fish are spread out lake is 6ft low spoonbill not move up river thing should improve when water starts running I was out this morning count 73 boats no fish on a single boat
Fishing on Lake of the Ozarks Cat fishing is really good catching a lot of blues and channel on cut bait in 15-20 ft of water. Bigger fish on live bait you can catch a limit in a few hours mostly good eater only a few over 15lbs its all I can due to keep up with 3 rods that good fishing.
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 791.0 Temperature: 55
Inflow: 45 cfs Outflow: 165 cfs Level: 1.69 feet high
Channel Catfish good using leaches, night crawlers and stink bait
Flathead No Report
Walleye No Report
Crappie No Report
Largemouth Bass No Report
Bluegill No Report
White Bass No Report
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 891.0 Temperature:
Inflow: 1 cfs Outflow: 13 cfs Level: 0.17 feet high
Mouse Creek at Longview Lake has a new gate and the area will be closed at 9:00 p.m. and will not reopen until 8:00 a.m. All fisherman need to have their vehicles out of the area by 9:00 p.m. or their vehicles could be locked in for the night and/or ticketed.
Catfish No Report
Bass No Report
Crappie No Report
Updated 04/14/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 606.0 Temperature: 52
Release Rate: 400 Level: 1.25 feet high
Report by: South Fork Resort
Date: 4/14/05
Lake Level : 608.11
Normal Lake Level : 606
Water Condition: Dingy - Muddy
Surface Water Temp: 52
The Corp of Engineers annual day use passes are now available, stop by or contact a Corp of Engineers office for this years pass.
There should be at least one courtesy walkway in place at each of the boat ramps that normally have them. We got a fair amount of rain yesterday, enough to send the lake up a foot from yesterdays level. The water temps have been around 50 degrees in most of the main lake, while the upper reaches have been reached 63 degrees. The warmer water is where the best action has been taking place.
The Crappie reports, for the most part, have been spotty, however more fishermen have reported catching good numbers of crappie. Most have been on the small side, but then again more reports of good size crappie are coming in. The crappie are moving closer to shore, with several being caught at 2 to 5 feet. The clearer water the better, and in places you would normally fish during the spawn. The spawn is probably still a couple of weeks away. The bite has been very lite, keep a finger on your line and feel for a very lite tap. Occasionally raise the line and feel for resistance, or watch your line for any subtle changes, such as going slack. The South Fork, Middle Fork and Elk Fork have produced good catches. As for bait, minnows or jigs tipped with minnows. Crappie nibbles are very much worth considering. Black/Chartreuse or Blue/White tube jigs have been the most popular color combos. As always, be patient and don't give up too soon, however move on if the crappie are not cooperating within a reasonable amount of time.
Bass fishing has gotten better. Shallow water up the forks has been productive, using gold blade spinner baits in shallow water about 1- 4 feet deep around timber and laydowns. On a good day the bite has been described as an "all day bite". The warmer the water, the better.
Cat Fishing has been good. Several flatheads in the 30 to 55 lb. range have been caught on jugs and trotlines. The South Fork and Middle Fork have been productive, using gold fish or perch. Channel cats have been biting on night crawlers and shad sides. The rivers and creeks are flowing from the recent rain, and will probably make the cat fishing better. A fat night crawler or a juicy chunk of shad tossed near the mouths of creeks should produce some cats. Take advantage of the flowing water. Ernie and David are pictured with a couple of the flatheads.
The White Bass have been on the move lately. Some good catches of white bass have been reported. Go way up the rivers and look for warmer water along rock shelves. Jeff and Tom enjoyed hooking into the white bass.
Worth mentioning, a few incidental catches of bluegill have been reported, and morel mushrooms should be popping up soon.
Happy fishing and good eating, or releasing!!
Article about Crappie Fishing on Mark Twain
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature:
No Report
MISSOURI RIVER (Homers Landing)
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature:
Catfish No Report
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature: 66
Channel Catfish: Flathead:
Largemouth Bass: Excellent
Stripers: No Report
Crappie: fair
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: Temperature: 50
Level:
Report By: Big Birds Bait Braggin' Board
Check out river bottom lures we stock 8 colors in 4 and 6
inch
Check out the new lx bow by Matthew's
Bass good about 15 feet on jigs
Catfish good on liver heard of some 10 pounders caught after rain
Bluegill good in shallows
Crappie slow still on brush piles
The boat pass price changed to $5.00 day pass and $35 for the year also
Come in and see the new switchback bow from Mathews
THANKS
BIG BIRD
RIDE HARD RIDE FREE
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature: 57
Inflow: 240 cfs Outflow: 300 cfs Level: 2.51 feet high
Black Bass
fair on green, brown or black soft plastic baits or jig
& chunk 6 to 15 feet of water deep around structure, rock banks and off points
Bluegill fair on jigs, minnows, crickets and worms around structure and docks 5 to 10 feet of water
Catfish fair on trotlines and limb lines using crayfish, worms, cut shad and bluegill off channels
Crappie fair on chartreuse, white or yellow jigs or minnows 8 to 10 deep around stumps and fish attractors
Walleye fair using yellow or chartreuse horse head jigs and deep running lures up river, off points and on riprap 8 to 20 feet of water
White Bass slow up river trolling silver chartreuse jigs and spinners
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature: 69 Clarity: Level: high and dingy
Largemouth Bass: slow
Channel Cat: good using worms and prepared baits in 10 feet of water or less
Bluecat: slow
Bluegill: slow
Crappie: good using minnows and jigs
Updated 04/22/05
Water Temp: 64
Crappie: fair using minnows
Blue Catfish: No Report
Channel Catfish: No Report
Largemouth Bass: fair using top water lures
Bluegill: No Report
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 864.2 Temperature: 57
Inflow: 330 cfs Outflow: 8 cfs Level: 1.11 feet low
Report by Burton's Bait and Tackle
CRAPPIE: Fair to Good: The fish moving toward the banks but have not arrived yet. They are headed back in the coves and scattered in different depths and locations. The males should be on the banks up in the river areas and staging in the main lake. Some very nice stringers are starting to come in. Minnows and jigs and something with chartreuse on the jigs.
BASS: The bass fishing is much improved over last year. Our first three tournaments have produce good numbers of fish being caught. Jigs, spinner baits and rogues are still the lures of choice for most fisherman. The fish are shallow especially up the river arms and up the Branch. See Thurs. 2005 or Weekend 2005 tournament results for the weigh-in. The river is fairly muddy and so are Roberts and Linn Creeks. The campbranch side is much cleaner.
CATFISH: The Catfish in the Little Platte river arm of the lake are biting. Some nice channels and a few blues are being caught on shad sides. A young man brought in a 32 lb 12 oz flathead in on 4-15. Trot line on a goldfish somewhere in the lake.
White Bass: Fair: The whites are up the river and are being caught. Fish from the old iron bridge to the bridge on 116 hwy.
WALLEYE: Fair: The spawn is for the most part over. The fish will soon be moving to the main lake points to feed up. This is you best chance to catch numbers of fish. Most of the fisherman have been fishing the face of the dam at night but a few are being caught around the rocks on the bridges. I weighed a 10 lb 9.5 oz monster on 4-4.
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 56
Inflow: 500 cfs Outflow: 1454 cfs Level: 2.08 feet high
Report By: Square Deal Bait Shop
Black Bass fair on stick baits, crankbaits and jig 7 frog off points
White Bass fair on the big arm of the lake and up river arms
Walleye fair on stick baits and crankbaits off main lake points
Crappie good on minnows and small jigs in 10-15' of water
Catfish slow.
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 56-60
Release Rate: 2489 cfs. Level: 3.00 feet low
Report by: Pete's Professional Guide Service
LAKE LEVEL 912.57 NORMAL 915
WATER TEMP 56-60
The fishing the past few weeks has been tough for the most part. It's been hard to pattern anything because of the weather changes, one front after another. We seem to be about two weeks behind as far as water temperature and spawn. Fish are starting to bed in some areas of the lake now where water temps are ranging from 56 to mid 60's in some areas in the afternoon.
The upper rivers, King's White & James you can catch lots of numbers, mostly small buck bass moving up on 4"worms, French Fry's, 3"-4" grubs on main lake and secondary points, split shot, Mo-Jo rigs or Carolina rigs working best. Fish the smoke or white, or watermelon 3"-5" grubs on 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads. Watermelon & green pumpkin worms are working good, also Chompers in the same colors. Fish these worms and grubs in 3'-15', most of the fish have been on bottom or close. On windy days try slow rolling a 3/8 oz. & 1/2 oz. spinner bait from the mouths of the creeks to the very backs, fishing in 2'-10'. Crankbaits in crawdad patterns (browns & greens) Wiggle warts, Bandit 200's, Bombers will also work. I have also started to catch some on Senko's in the creeks as well.
With the water temps rising and the fish moving up to spawn, all sorts of lures will catch fish, you just have to be patient and give your favorite lure time. The Dam area, Kimberling City, Baxter & Campbell Point areas the patterns will also work in these areas, but the moss on bottom can be a problem while split shotting, Carolina rigging, or any bottom baits fished. Most of the moss seems to be from the bank out to about 8', and not all areas have it. Try to position your boat so you can fish the outside edge of the moss. Smallmouths are starting to turn on in the clearer water, they can be caught on grubs and 4" worms split shot or on slider head rigs.
Good Luck!!
Upper White River, Eagle Rock to Houseman's/Blue Spring
Updated: 04/22/2005
Report By: Fletcher's Devils Dive Resort and Ozark fishing guides
Water Temp. 50-57
*Black Bass-*
are on their nests. Use Sinko, French Fries, and 4" tubes
to lure them off.
*Crappie*-
some being caught at random in trees or chasing shad.
*White Bass- *
Excellent time- they have moved up further from Beaver to
Houseman's. Try sand & timber areas. 1/8 oz. jigs. Lucky Craft Pointer
and American Shad #70.
*Walleye*-
more being caught mostly small, we've heard larger fish also
being caught. Should improve in the next week.
Updated 04/22/05
Temperature: Level:
Report by River Run Outfitters
GRAND OPENING Celebration for our new location! Come join us! We will have reps from Orvis, Sage/Redington and others on hand to answer questions - fly tying demos from area tiers - hot dogs - casting help - drawings and door prizes - but most of all FUN! APRIL 30, 2005 - activities run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHERE? Our new location - 2626 State Hwy. 165
GENERAL COMMENTS
Off, one or two generators running since Monday. Based on information I received from one of the hydraulic engineers at SWPA, they are ATTEMPTING to maintaining the water level at the Branson Landing construction site at an elevation of 701 feet or less until the work near the water is completed.
Water Conditions: 11:00 a.m. Monday they turned the water OFF for 5 hours. Then, one till midnight when they turned on two. Yesterday they ran two then turned it down to one in the afternoon. One running this morning and turned up to two around 3:00 p.m.
FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Trips over the weekend with the high water and it fished very well. We mainly fished the sloughs and flats and caught 30-50 fish each. Most were caught on the red tunghead in the sloughs with the faster water. Once we settled on the flats (big areas of level ground that is normally above water with no water flow), where the current was not so fast, we caught them on either olive or black zebra, size 18 midges. The color depended on where we were on the water. Lots of fish Sunday in the 15-18 inch range. VERY fat! Yesterday, with the flow at one generator, dark olive or yellow soft hackles were getting hits almost every cast for probably 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Once they stopped on soft hackles, went back to the midges and continued catching some nice fish.
STAN'S TIP: New regulations for most of the trout streams went into
effect March 1. Read up on these changes. Specifically for Taneycomo, if you
keep legal size fish, the limit is now 4. Also, a trout permit is required for
anyone fishing above Highway 65 bridge.
Back to Top
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity: Level:
Temperature: 64
Crappie good using minnows and jigs
Bass slow
Channel cat fair using night crawlers and stink bait
Updated 04/22/05
Lake
Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0 Temperature: 64
Inflow: 3600 cfs Outflow: 4104 cfs Level: 1.86 feet high
MAIN LAKE Report by Sterett Creek Marina
Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina 4/20/05
Finally a fishing report everyone will like. The only thing that's slow on Truman right now is the white bass and hybrid bite. Crappie are on the beds and the black bass bite is really good. The weather has been treating us good with the exception that it is a little dry. The lake is a little stained but the fish don't seem to mind. So if everything keeps going it should be an awesome spring.
LAKE LEVEL: 707.86
WATER TEMP: 64 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Stained.
BASS:
The bass fishing here on Truman is about as good as it gets. Last night in the Hawg Fights it took 14.21 lbs. of fish. Our old buddies Doug and Ozzie Wallace won it and also had big bass at 5.78 lbs. 2 nd. was Jim Lehares and Steve Blake with 8.28 lbs. 3 rd. was Howard Love and john Polliff with 7.69. These are some really good weights for fishing 3 hours and in a 20 mph. wind. The jig and frog is still the top producer with the lizard and brush hog right behind it. Best colors are black and blue and watermelon red, don't forget PP&J. Half way back in the creeks on the points on the nitches seem to be holding fish. 3' to 6' of water on the steeper banks is the best of the best.CRAPPIE:
The crappie are on the beds now. You need to fish in 3' to 4' of water. Remember the lake is up 2' so this will put the fish in a little deeper water. Jig and bobber and road runners are the best baits. Color doesn't really seem to matter. Look for pea gravel banks in the creeks. Set the bobber about a foot deep. Both Big and Little Tebo are producing good fish. The spawn is just starting so we should have a couple weeks of really good crappie fishing.WHITES & HYBRIDS:
No report.CATFISH:
Jugs on the flats are still doing good. Set stages about 10' with cut shad. I look for the trot line bite to start any time around here with the water temps. we have. Floating lines set in 3' of water with stages set about a foot next to ditches should get going real quick..So till next week we bid you good fishin
Tommy
Tebo Arm
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Temp:
Report by:
Crappie No Report
Catfish No Report
Bass No Report
White Bass No Report
Grand River Arm
Updated 04/22/05
Lake temp:
Report for Grand River Arm by Bucksaw Marina
Crappie are on. Catching fish on the bank 1 to 3 ft of water, they are spawning. The best way to catch them is find the pockets out of the wind using a bobber set at 12inches throw it to the bank and work it back to you. Keep your boat moving and look for laydowns.
Bass are up shallow on spinner baits and crankbaits in the very back of the pockets. Again the pockets with no wind are the best. They are catching lots of bass and some good ones. We have a gentleman here from out of state that is catching bass every day and some big ones.
Catfish are coming in this week we saw a 57lb 42lb and 40lball flathead, fishing in 10 ft of water using live bait. Fishing in all is great all fish are up shallow wanting to spawn. Come and see us Thanks
* New Missouri regulations require that jug lines be attended at all times unless anchored.
Updated 04/22/05
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 359.0 Temperature:
Release Rate: 860 Level: 2.72 feet low
Largemouth Bass good using crankbaits and plastic lures
White Bass White Bass No Report
Crappie good using minnows and jigs in shallow water
Bluegill fair
Catfish good using night crawlers at night around rocky areas
Note: On the waters of Wappapello Lake & its tributaries, all Walleye & Sauger must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. Anglers are encouraged to harvest bass under 11" (daily limit 6) to reduce the numbers of small bass in Wappapello lake.